In July (2000)

A young, insecure teacher embarks on a journey through Europe to Turkey, where he wants to see a woman again whom he believes to be his fate.

Director:

Fatih Akin

Writer:

Fatih Akin

Stars:

Moritz Bleibtreu, Christiane Paul, Mehmet Kurtulus

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Moritz Bleibtreu	...	Daniel Bannier
Christiane Paul	...	Juli
Mehmet Kurtulus	...	Isa
Idil Üner	...	Melek
Jochen Nickel	...	Leo
Branka Katic	...	Luna
Birol Ünel	...	Kellner
Sandra Borgmann	...	Marion
Ernest Hausmann	...	Kodjo
Gábor Salinger	...	Marktverkäufer
Cem Akin	...	Türkischer Grenzbeamter
Fatih Akin	...	Rumänischer Grenzbeamter
Nina Lauterbach	...	Kira
Linda Wagener	...	Anette
Hans Daglioglu	...	Ernie

Storyline

Daniel is a young teacher in-spe, who in contrast to everyone else plans to stay in Hamburg for the summer. Juli, a girl at the flea-market, wants to get known to Daniel and manages to sell him a Mayan ring with a sun on it, foretelling him that he will meet a girl with a sun. One day later Daniel is already on his way across Europe. It seems the prophecy came true somehow.

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Plot Keywords:

rowboat | theft | border crossing | hitchhiker | cigarette smoking | 

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Taglines:

Im Herz, im Bauch, im Juli.

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

Fatih Akin: the Romanian Border Guard.

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Goofs

During the end of the film, Daniel, Juli, Isa and Melek pass the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge (Second Bridge) from the European side to the Asian side just after Daniel and Juli are picked up by the others, but seconds later during the helicopter shot they are crossing from the Asian side to the European side on the Bosphorus Bridge (First Bridge).

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Quotes

Daniel Bannier: Ok, we'll play the old game. The first person to stop decides where we go, ok?
Juli: Want me to tell you something?
[Daniel nods]
Juli: I love you.
Daniel Bannier: What?
Juli: I love you.
Daniel Bannier: It's funny but I'm not sure I heard that right...
Juli: I love you.
Daniel Bannier: I said that it's difficult to understand you.
Juli: I LOVE YOU!
[...]

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Connections

References It Happened One Night (1934)

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Soundtracks

Deger mi
Performed by Sezen Aksu

User Reviews

Mayan sun

This sunny German film was a complete surprise. In fact, it's one of the best things that we have seen from that country in a while, which proves that when a talent like Mr. Akin is at the helm, one must rush to see whatever he decides to present for us.

In fact, the beginning of the film is kind of disorienting. We are thinking one way, and suddenly we are taken back to another time and another situation involving Daniel. We saw him in the lonely road where Isa happens to be taking on his way home to Turkey. Right after he has been left behind, we meet him again in different circumstances as he is teaching math to a group of inattentive students who are preparing for their summer vacations.

Daniel, after meeting Juli, buys a Mayan sun ring that she promises will let him meet a woman who will have a ring to match his, that same night, and that woman will be his true love. When sees the lovely and exotic Melek, who is wearing a tee shirt with what appears to be another Mayan sun, he believes the prophesy has come true. Melek, who is traveling to Turkey tells him about how she is going to wait under a bridge for the man who is destined for her. Daniel is so taken with this beautiful creature that he decides to follow her all the way to Istanbul. The only problem is that in taking to the road, Daniel discovers himself and gets to meet his true love at the end.

The film is made more enjoyable by Mortiz Bleibtreu's work in it. This young actor has a face that registers all the emotions running through him at the time. He makes the movie work because of his intelligent approach to the role. Equally charismatic is Christiana Paul, who plays Juli. Lovely Idil Uner is seen as Melek and Mehmet Kurtulus is Isa and Branke Katic plays Luna.

The film is a road movie that shows some beautiful European countryside and byways as the trip progresses from Germany to its end in Istanbul. Mr. Akin has directed with great panache as he involves us, the viewers, into this fun trip.

Details

Country:

Germany

Language:

German English Turkish Bulgarian Serbo-Croatian Romanian

Release Date:

24 August 2000 (Germany)

Also Known As:

In July

Filming Locations:

Hungary

Box Office

Budget:

DEM5,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$34,245

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wüste Film, Filmförderung Hamburg, FFF Bayern

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1